Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-04
THE CITY IIALLPLANS.
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE CON-
MEHCEs WORK AS TO THEM
TEey Want 70 Find Out Why $1,000
was Paid TO Mr.. Clinton
De Priest.

adoption OF the Myers pan lOT Duuu- /
ing the new City Hall, and particularly
in what manner and direction Mr.. Clin-
ton De Priest used his influence to secure
their adoption, met last night at $ o'clock
in the Chancery- Court room to begin the .
A meeting had been previously called,
but the attendance, in consequence OF .
the inclcment weather, was 50 small .
that the examination was postponed .
until this meeting. There were present .
Alderman Rowland Hill chairman, /
George Bryan and j. L. /
and Messrs Thomas Potts, 1
VI. I. Clarke, y. W. Bowe, and |. ). 4
Tower, from the five members appointed /
by the Board OF Public Interests.
WITNESSES.
The only witness summoned was Mr. /
Clinton De Priest. Mayor Darlington,
Colonel Cutshaw, City Engineer j. L.
Chappell, Lewis d. Crenshaw, Jr., Evan
Snead. A. Plzzini, Jr., Z. Sullivan, and
Thomas y. Kendler. all members Of the
Council, were invited 10 be present.
Messrs. Chappell, Pizzini, Sullivan,
and Render were IN attendance, Colo
mel Cutshaw was sick, and letter WAS
received from Mayor Darlington to Mr.
Meredith saying that he was suffering
from neuralgia and would be present Mt
the next session of the committee, az he
was anxious to state all he knew about
the matter.
City-Attorney c. Y. Meredith was
present to conduct the examination and
ex.Judgo Edmund Waddill, Jr, APP
peared as counsel for De Priest. The
members of the Council named were in
yited because their names had been men
toned IN connection with the matter.
DE PRIESTS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Clinton De Priest, who ever since
his appointment, some time ago, by the
Grounds and Buildings Committee to
the position OF Keeper OF the Neville
Park, Immediately after that
committee came into the possession OF
the knowledge Of the fact that he re
ceivcd 81 800 for securing the adoption
Of the Myers plan has been held promi-
nently before the public gazo, was the
first witness called. He was on tho
stand for nearly two hours and sub
jecteI to the most rigid cross-examina-
ton 10y Mr. Meredith. While on the
stand he read the following statement
concerning his connection with the My
ers plan / was employed by MIR
George W. Myers to act as his agent
in Richmond Va. My duties were
to place all the information he
furnished me as to the merit Of
his plan for the new City Hall in the
hands Of the councilnTn and their
friends. There vas nothing SAID about
improper influence being used. | intro
duced him TO mauY persons III the city :;
distributed pamphlets, circulars, aud
photographs of his design amongst cOun-
clmou: hung up his perspective draw
iugint the Council chamber. and discussed
the merits OF his plan with any one who
approached NE. / Was paid the prom
ised Zee after the city paid Myers; and
aid not in any manner use any portion
cf my fee or in any manner use any
improper influence with any member OF
the Council or any one else. | aud
members Of my family spent the entire
amount OF $500, paid me. and not one
cent more or less was ever given, paid,
or in any manner directly or indirectly
passed t. any official or member OF the
city government
TIE HON. JOHN s. wIsE's SECRETARY.
IN an5wcrto Mr. Marciiths questions
Mr.. De Priest said that this paper. which
Was in type writing, was prepared by
himself and copied by Mr. McGlone,
Captain John 5. Wise private secretary.
Captain Wise, though, was not present,
aud knew nothing whatever OF tue
paper.
Mr. De Priest continued at great
length and gave in the most detailed
mauner his connection with the Myers
plan. In what he sad there was little
that has not been published in the Dis
patch. and nothing either to interest
the public or throw any light on the
subject. He said be met Mr. Myers at
the Exchange Hotel, where the two were
introduced Unexpectedly by mutual
friend. Nr. LOUIS PiZZlni, the witness
thought In their conversation the City
Hall matter came up, and Myers an
nouncod his Intention 70 bring suit
against the city for rejecting his plan
and adopting that Of Wait Il Cutter after
his had first been adopted. he de
Pricsu suggested that before bringing
tui. an effort be made to get the then
incoming Reform Council to adopt the
plan. and failing in this, to bring the suit.
next morning Myers came 10 his house
and after talking with him offered TO
give him the 81, 800 if the plan was
adoptcd Witness wanted 800 cash and
the remaining $1,000 contingent, but
this Myers refused, and he accepted the
first Offer He course wanted the best
bargain he could get. The contract was
drawn by Mayor Darlington as per
soual friend, who made no charge for his
services. \ copy OF the contract, which
has been published in this paper
was read. De Priest gave, as far
as he could remember them. the
names Of cOuncilmen with whom he con-
versed in connection with the matter,
stated as well as he could what lie said
10 each, and said that he had never at
tempted to exercise any undue influence
TO secure the adoption of the plan. He
was Myerss agent, and did all he could
in the way OF talking the merits Of the
plan and furnishing pamphlets and other
information to members of the Council.
De Priest testified in very honest,
straightforward manner.
THE CoUSCLMES SPEAK.
When De Priest had concluded
Messrs. Hill, Montgomery, Chappell. and
Pizzini. all members Of the Council
whose names had been mentioned il
some way or other in connection with
this matter, were called upon and made
brief statements giving history of theil
connection with the City Hall plans
All had spoken with De Priest, but none
of them knew of his using or attempt
ing to use any undue influence OF
any one. The Myers plan wa
favored by Colonel Cltshaw, and to thi
fact was largely due its adoption. Th'
majority Of the councilmen were also il
favor Of it. It.. was adopted by th'
Grounds and Buildings Committee b.
the following vote. Ayes-Messrs
I